By Zweli Martin Dlamini

MBABANE: King Mswati has purchased multimillion armoured Toyota LandCruisers for the military amid the political unrest in this tiny Kingdom of eSwatini,the purchase is or estimated to be over R20 million.

An armoured vehicle has extras to accommodate weapons for military operations.

One of the purchased vehicles registered S 323 was spotted in Nhlangano,behind the Magistrates Court on Saturday.

Siphephelo Dlamini,a soldier based at St George Barracks was captured in a piece of circumstantial electronic evidence confirming that the cars would be used to kill civilians who were critical of Mswati’s Government. 

The soldier was speaking while drinking alcohol at Zama-Zama Bar situated at the Mahlalini-Madulini junction in the outskirts of Nhlangano town,a few metres away from his home.

The soldier said as the military, they were recently addressed by Army Commander Lieutenant General Mashikilisane Fakudze who told them to shoot and kill anyone suspected to be against King Mswati’s regime.

“The Army Commander said this order came directly from the King. Utsite Commander itsi iNkhosi, wake walibonaphi lisotja liboshwa nakunemphi? ngiko-ke lamasotja ladubula bantfu angaboshwa. Mine nje kutsi ngiyanitsandza ngoba nibangani bami, otherwise ngabe ngicondza lapha endlini ngilandza sibhamu ngiyanidubula, ngeke sengiboshwe futsi ngoba sinikiwe leyo order(meaning: The Army Commander said the King ordered that we must not be arrested, how can you arrest a soldier for shooting and killing during a war? That’s why the soldiers who are busy shooting people are not arrested. You are lucky because you are my friends, I am warning you to be careful these days, otherwise, I could have gone to my house now, pick a gun and shoot you. No one would arrest me because we were given an order to kill,” said the soldier.

The eyewitnesses who were with the soldier shared some audio recordings and asked to be protected, fearing that the soldier might remember those who were next to him at the bar.

“The car in the picture was not driven by Siphephelo on Saturday, it was driven by another soldier.But Siphephelo later shared some information suggesting that besides this one, there are other twelve(12) armoured vehicles to be used in their operations,” said the eyewitness.

Indeed, the armoured vehicles were spotted along the public roads last week, however, the Army has been reluctant to respond to questions regarding the purchasing of the vehicles.

Lieutenant Tengetile Khumalo,the Army Spokesperson said the Umbutfo Eswatini Defense Force can only respond to operational issues.

“Your questionnaire is highly appreciated.The Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force Public Affairs can only respond to operational lssues. Kindly contact the Government Spokesperson in this regard,”said the Army Public Relations Officer(PRO).

Government Spokesperson Alpheous Nxumalo had not responded at the time of compiling report.

Reached for comments, Gift Mandlenkosi Dlamini, the Secretary General of the Swazis First Democratic Front(SFDF) said it was clear that this regime was not preparing for a political dialogue but a civil war.

“It is clear that this regime is not preparing for a dialogue but a full blown war against its own citizens. This means the call by political leaders that we must organize in communities and defend ourselves is genuine and must be taken seriously. We must now understand that there is a planned genocide against anyone who will raise a voice calling for democracy,” said the SFDF Secretary General.

Eswatini is in the midst of a political unrest, dozens have been killed since the unrest started in June 2021.

King Mswati is alleged to have issued an order to kill protesting civilians.